Candidates for State Executive Committee

My name is Joey Melone, and I am a senior at AC Reynolds High School. I've been involved with the Buncombe Dems for 4 years, volunteering and now working on various campaigns ranging from school board to congressional races. In 2021 I got my start with the Teen and Highschool Dems, then in 2023 I was elected Vice President of the Young Democrats of Buncombe County and appointed Finance Director of the Young Democrats of North Carolina, assisting in raising more than $100,000 for the organization. In 2024 I served as one of the youngest field organizers in Western NC, for Caleb Rudow's campaign for NC11, and as an intern for Lindsey Prather's campaign for State House, recruiting, training and managing volunteers across the district.

My future goals are to pursue a political science degree at UNC Greensboro. As the newly elected director of programming for the College Dems of North Carolina, I will continue my work to get young people involved and to get Democrats elected across the state.

I'd appreciate your vote to reelect me as a member of the State Executive Committee!

I don’t have a fancy resume. I’ve spent most of my life working service jobs— waiting tables, tech support, etc.

I’ve been coming to the Asheville area my whole life, and I moved here 3 years ago because the mountains felt like home. I found flexible work here at Montreat that allowed me to care for my mom while she was dying of cancer. Currently, I work as the Assistant Arrangements Manager there.

I believe in the power of showing up and helping out however I can.

Working in the service industry has shaped how I see the world. I’ve watched single moms work for less than minimum wage because tips are supposed to make up the difference— while the restaurant owner drives a BMW and has a nice beach house. That’s not right, and we need leaders who get that.

I believe the Democratic Party needs to build power from the bottom up. We need to figure out a better way to communicate how our party is working for people who feel left out and left behind. We need to show we care about these communities not just during election season, but all the time. Too many folks who should be in our corner don’t feel welcome and don’t feel like the party represents them or their values. We have to change that.

40+ years in Buncombe County working as a clean energy, public education, and community volunteer, entrepreneur and advocate.

Small business owner, non-profit IT services provider, Democratic precinct officer, cluster leader, and former County Party and campaigns Treasurer. Networker with statewide Democratic Party members and leaders.

I have organized and coordinated get-out-the-vote efforts in NC-11 and Buncombe County since 2006. I served as Precinct 4.1 chair for 18 years, two terms as county 1st Vice Chair, and six terms (nonconsecutive) on the State Executive Committee (SEC).

My most important SEC qualification is that I attend these tedious meetings without fail, in person, wherever they take place across North Carolina. I want others to share SEC responsibilities, but recognize that the SEC is a time and money commitment.

I am a two-time Liston B. Ramsey Award-winner (Buncombe County, 2009 & 2013) and my free For The Win GOTV planning guide for county chairs is in its 5th edition and in 50 states. For over a decade, I’ve written for Digby's Hullabaloo, a nationally recognized, Los Angeles-based political website. I was a 2024 DNC Convention Delegate from NC-11.

I respectfully ask for your vote and support as a candidate for SEC.

I am a long time (oldish) member of the Democratic Party. I have had an opportunity to be involved at many levels. One of the most important jobs on the SEC is the governance of our State Party. Being a member of the SEC requires time and dedication to the structure of the Party, upholding the Plan of Organization and the willingness to move the Party in a positive direction. Here are some of the experiences I have had:

- Chair, McDowell County Democratic Party
- First Vice Chair, McDowell County Democratic Party
- Precinct Chair North Cove Precinct multiple terms
- Candidate NC House District 85 (old district)
- Lillian’s List Featured Candidate
- Liston B Ramsey Award
- Member of County Board of Elections, McDowell Co
- Council of Review multiple terms/currently seated CD 11
- SEC many years/currently seated Buncombe Co
- Young Democrats McDowell Advisor (all grown now)
- Young Democrats of NC Advisor/special award (these humans are all grown now)
- Democratic Women McDowell Co
- District Platforms and Resolutions Committee
- Statewide Platforms and Resolutions Committee
- Campaign manager Chuck Aldridge NC House District 85 (old district) ‘06/’08
- Campaign advisor Emily Swearingen New Hanover Co House District
- Volunteer/ multiple campaigns
- Advisor: subcommittee Plan of Organization Review Committee
- Candidate proxy/surrogate
- Front desk/rover volunteer Buncombe County Democratic Party
- Poll greeter for Buncombe County Democratic Party and multiple campaigns

My sincerest thanks for your kind consideration.

Mark is a dedicated Democratic leader and seasoned nonprofit professional with almost 2 decades of experience in non-profit fundraising. He is honored to serve as one of your State Executive Committee (SEC) members and is excited to seek re-election to continue representing Buncombe County and Western North Carolina at the North Carolina Democratic Party.

Mark’s leadership spans local, state, and national levels. He has served as a precinct chair, Treasurer of the Buncombe County Democratic Party, National Committeeman of the Young Democrats of North Carolina, and Treasurer of the Young Democrats of America.

Mark holds a B.A. from UNC-Chapel Hill, an M.A. from Georgetown University and a Certificate in Nonprofit Management from Duke University. Whether in political or professional spheres, Mark is committed to building stronger communities and advancing progressive values.

I am a lifelong Democratic activist, I moved to Asheville three years ago, after a year in Costa Rica, and I love it here. I am currently a precinct officer in the Emma Neighborhood, an area that I canvassed for the Harris campaign.

I am a progressive transgender man, a proud Democrat, and a union activist. I have dedicated myself to protecting workers, have led campaigns to protect renters from unjust evictions, passed strong rent control ordinances and increased the minimum wage that led to a living wage around the SF Bay Area. I fought for economic and social justice for working people, immigrants, people of color and neighborhoods. Named a "local hero" by the San Francisco Bay Guardian, I was also a Community Grand Marshal for the SF Pride Parade, a former President of the Harvey Milk LGBT Democratic Club, and a former Co-Vice President of Pride at Work, a national AFL-CIO LGBT Labor constituency group.

I am a graduate of UC Berkeley and Hastings College of Law, I have also worked as a Political organizer for SEIU Local 1021 for 19 years, and was on the Executive Board of the Contra Costa Labor Council. I also served as an elected member of the SF Democratic County Central Committee for 10 years, and after that was a Statewide Delegate to the California Democratic Convention for 6 years, and served on the Resolutions Committee for the State Democratic Party.

I would be honored to have your support.

Hi, I'm Valentina Pallin, a lifelong Buncombe Democrat and a resident of Precinct 9.1.

I serve as Vice President of the Buncombe County Young Democrats and was the Campaign Manager for Bo Hess’s 2024 Asheville City Council campaign.

As a young person committed to values like equity, inclusion, justice, and providing for the common good, I’m running for a position on the SEC to represent Western North Carolina and to strengthen ties between local community leaders and state party leadership in Raleigh.